Before Valkyrie was released, there was so much bad press surrounding an American-accented, eye-patched Tom Cruise, people were calling this the nail in Cruise’s career coffin. Of course, that was before Tropic Thunder. I held my expectations higher than that, especially knowing Bryan Singer was behind the camera. And now that it’s out, Valkyrie is nowhere near as bad as everyone thought (hoped?) it would be. In fact, it’s a pretty good film with some tense sequences bogged down by a slow start and odd casting choices.

I think I would have enjoyed Valkyrie a whole lot more if it starred someone other than Tom Cruise. That’s not really a knock on Cruise, he does an adequate job playing Stauffenberg, the German colonel leading the charge on a murder plot against Hitler. He just really has no business playing the lead. This is supposed to be a story showing a growing German uprising against Hitler, proving there were good Germans out there opposed to his reign. Unfortunately, when the Germans are being portrayed by American and British actors speaking in their native accents, something gets lost in the (non)translation. When you see Tom Cruise, you see an American in a German uniform. You don’t get the emotional connection that Tom Cruise The German has suffered the atrocities of Hitler’s regime.

That said, the carrying out of the assassination attempt is extremely well-done. Bryan Singer is able to create tension out of thin air. We know the ending to this story, yet there’s a building sense that maybe they actually pulled it off. It only takes a few hesitations and loyalty oaths to unravel the whole thing. The acting is top-notch, despite the lack of German actors. Everyone effectively carries out their duties of looking extremely concerned and fearful. Any cast with Kenneth Branagh, Terence Stamp, Tom Wilkinson, and Bill Nighy is sure to nail that.

Valkyrie‘s heart lies in the fact that most Germans know the end is near. They can sense that Germany will lose the war and Hitler will be killed, and it’s probably going to happen soon. In fact, it does, 9 months later. Despite this, they still risk their lives to kill Hitler, showing the world that not all Germans are evil (and also to negotiate a better peace deal). It’s admirable and courageous, a story that deserves being told. Unfortunately, Valkyrie is simply a good thriller starring Tom Cruise; not a moving tribute to the unsung heroes who tried to bring down Nazi Germany from the inside.

I wrote and directed this Christmas short a few years ago. It’s always nice to bring it out this time of year. Merry Christmas everyone, hope you all get a Boba Fett hoodie!

Here’s a little Christmas present to everyone who visits the site. I give you…THE COLLECTOR!

My dad loves Wild Hogs.